Jul 14, 2008
Hi Madelyn,
Yes, I have the same problem on occasion, too and it can be frustrating. I have often said that wine packaging was not designed by someone who only has a glass or two of wine at a time!
First of all, you are on the right path in terms of trying to preserve your leftover wine. The only thing I would recommend that you add to your routine is to use one of those vacuum systems that pumps the air out and then seals the wine, rather than just re-inserting the cork. I find that doing that does really help a bit more in preserving the fruity flavors of the wine. Then putting the bottle in the fridge is also a good way to help give your wine a bit of a longer life span.
You mention that you usually drink the wine within the next day or two and to be honest, I find that even with the air pump and putting the wine in the fridge, two days is just about all you really get. You can push it to three, but you will notice some deterioration in flavor at that point. So, really, you knew the answer all along…about two days is how long the wine will remain “good for drinking.”
A few other suggestions for you though – have you mentioned to your local wine store that you would like to see them carry a bigger selection of half bottles? Sometimes your local wine merchant can help you with a special order. Also, there are a few companies that you can find online that might be able to help you, depending on where in the US you live. And finally, have you tried looking for a good quality boxed wine? There are better and better wines being packaged in bag-in-box containers these days and they are well worth tasting. The ideal aspect to boxed wine is that the bag in the box keeps the wine from being exposed to air and helps to preserve the wine. I find that when you are just looking for one glass of wine, this can be your most efficient way to go! Let me know if that helps you! Cheers, Sheri
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